TCU Moves to Third, OSU Stays Fifth
The College Football Playoff committee has rewarded TCU while keeping Ohio State on the outside looking in.
Alabama is No. 1 and Oregon is second for the third straight week. The Horned Frogs have leaped to No. 3 in the rankings, one spot ahead of unbeaten Florida State. TCU finishes its regular season at home Saturday against Iowa State, which is winless in the Big 12. The Seminoles are still in position to reach the national semifinals if they can win Saturday's ACC championship game against No. 11 Georgia Tech.
Ohio State is fifth after losing Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback J.T. Barrett to a broken ankle last week. Committee chairman Jeff Long insisted the committee did not factor in Barrett's injury this week but will when the final rankings come out Sunday.